Strainer.



No. 802,922. PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

P. EVANS. STRAINER.

Ila- 802,922. PATENTED 001*. 24, 1905. P. EVANS.

STRAINBR. APBLIOATION FILED JAN. 6,-1905.

sums-$112212.

UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

STRAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 19u5.

Original application filed June 4, 1904, Serial No. 211,201. Divided andthis application filed January 6 1905. Serial No. 239,893-

lb aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, POWELL EVANS, a citizen of the United States,residingin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Strainers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in strainers, being adivision of an application for Patent No. 211,201, filed by me June a,1904.

One object of my invention is to provide a strainer. attachment for usein connection with fluid-actuated apparatussuch, for example, asautomatically-acting alarm mechanism employed. in connection withsprinkler or other fire-extinguishing systems-which shall be of such anature as to prevent the possible clog ging of the apparatus by means ofpieces of solid material carried by the fluid. It is further desired toprovide a strainer attachment and apparatus of the general class notedwhich while being of such a construction as to prevent lodgment upon itof particles of solid material shall provide a trap for catching suchparticles and preventing their continued circulation within that portionof the apparatus to which the fluid is admitted. These objects I attainas hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of a flow-retardingdevice commonly used in connection with alarm mechanism forfire-extinguishing systems. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of a portionof the device shown in Fig. 1, being taken on the line 2 2 of saidfigure. Fig. 3 is a plan View with the cap removed, taken on the line 33, Fig. 1, further illustrating the construction of the device. Fig. 4is a vertical section of a form of circuit-closer commonly used inconnectionwith fire-extinguishing systems and having applied to it myimproved strainer attachment; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section takenon the line 5 5, Fig. 4:.

As set forth at length in the above-mentioned application for patent, ofwhich the present application is a division, it is of the most vitalimportance, particularly in fire-extinguishing systems, that the variouspieces of apparatus employed shall be ready for operation at all timesand shall, moreover, be of such a nature and construction as to remainin operative condition even after the'lapse of many years, and it iswith the idea of increasing the certainty of operation of devices of theclass noted that I have devised my invention. Referring to Figs. 1 to 3,inclusive, of the above drawings, B and C are two casings held in anydesired manner, the first being provided with an inlet 6 and having apartition 6 dividing it into two parts, in the upper of which is ascreen or strainer 6 inclined to the line of the inlet 6. This screenhas a portion 72 projecting over the recess or cavity formed by theupwardly-projecting rib or lug 6 upon which the overhanging end of saidscreen is supported. There is an opening Z2 through the partition 6'',and in this is fixed a tube 5, leading from the space under the screen 6to the interior of the casing B.

The casing G contains a valve 0, normally held upon a seat by means of aspring 0 The valve is provided with an upwardly-projecting stem, uponwhich is carried ahead 0 having-a portion 0 formed to coact with asecond valve-seat 0 so that when from any cause the valve is moveddownwardly for a sufficient distance the portion 0* of the head willrest upon said seat and close the passageway therethrough. The casing Cis so constructed that it has a space or chamber below the valve 0formed with an opening 0 the line of which is preferably tangent to acircle drawn from the center line of the valve. Within this chamber andinterposed between the valve 0 and the opening 0 is a cylindrical screen0 whose surface preferably includes the circle to which the line of thesaid opening 0 is tangent. The valve 0, the screen 0 and the spring 0are placed in position throughan opening in the lower end of the casingC, which is normally closed by a threaded plug 0 When under operatingconditions fluid is introduced into the casing C through the opening 0it will be seen that its direction of flow is such that it ispractically impossible for pieces of solid material to gather upon andclog the openings through the strainer or screen 0, since the rotarycurrent of fluid outside of said screen will certainly wash from itssurface any solid particles which might attempt to find lodgmentthereupon on passing through the same. In designing this structure Ipreferably form the opening 0' at some distance above the bottom of thecavity into which it opens, so that pieces of solid material may bepermitted to gather below the line of flow of fluid passing through theopening, and thereby to a greater or less extent be held out of theactive circulation of the fluid outside of the screen 0.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown my invention as applied to acircuit-closer employed to actuate an electric alarm when certainfluid-actuated apparatus employed in connection with fire-extinguishingsystems is operated. In this case there are two casings D and E, usuallyconnected together by bolts, as shown, and having upon them a diaphragmd, engaging with a plunger (2, pivotally attached to a switch-blade dThis blade is so placed that under certain conditions of the diaphragmit is caused to complete an electric circuit between two terminals d andd, and so actuate certain apparatus, which, as it forms no part of thepresent invention, is not illustrated. Entering the casing E is a pipe0, the line of which, similarly to that of the opening 0 in Figs. 1 and2, is substantially tangent to the surface of a cylindrical screen a. Itwill be seen that the space within this screen communicates with theunder side of the diaphragm d and also has entering it a nozzle 0provided withvrelatively small openings c for the outflow of fluid. Asbefore, liquid passing through the opening 6 will strike the cylindricalsurface of the screen 0 at such an angle as to effectually removetherefrom and also prevent the lodgment of particles of solid matter.

' I claim as my invention 1. A casing provided with an inlet and anoutlet and having fixed within it a substantially cylindrical strainerof reticulated material interposed between said inlet and outlet andhaving an unobstructed annular space around it, the surface of saidstrainer being substantially tangential to the line of flow of fluidpassing through one of said openings in the casing, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination of acasing having within it a substantiallycylindrical screen of reticulated material so placed as to have anunobstructed annular space around it, there being an outlet to saidscreen in communication with the space within the same and an inletplaced to deliver fluid upon said screen in a line inclined to thesurface thereof, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a casing having within it a substantiallycylindrical screen of reticulated material so placed as to have anunobstructed annular space around it, there being an outlet to saidscreen in communication with the space within the same and aninletplaced to deliver fluid upon said screen in a line substantiallytangential to the surface thereof, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a casing having a valve-seated opening between twoof its portions, a valve for said opening, a substantially cylindricalstrainer of reticulated material having its interior in communicationwith the valve-opening and having around it an unobstructed annularspace, there being an inlet to the casing in communication with thespace outside of said strainer, substantially as-described.

5. A casing having within it a conduit and a screen of reticulatedmaterial inclosing said conduit, said casing being formed to provide anunobstructed annular chamber around said screen and being provided withan opening placed to deliver fluid in such a line that it is caused tocirculate parallel with the surface of the screen within said annularchamber,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.-

POWELL EVANS.

Witnesses:

WM. E. VVATERs, MAURICE Gr. THOMAS.-

